For the first time, Old Rochester Regional Athletics Booster Club is supplementing its phoneathon with an online donations platform, in an effort to get 1,000 donors.

At the time of this writing, the fundraiser had 315 donors.

The booster club partnered with Community Funded to create its online web platform, Support Bulldog Nation. In addition, an anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations up to $50,000.

Also new is the option to donate to a single team, or several teams, rather than to the booster club generally.

“That way, both the teams and the boosters benefit. In the past, it’s all gone to the boosters,” explained Justin Shea, the president of the Athletics Booster Club.

At the time of this writing, the Volleyball program had attracted the most donors, with 48 contributions, while the sailing program had raised the most funds, with $2,990 donated in its name.

For the past ten years, students focused on phone calls to solicit funds. Now, they will reach out through phone calls, texts or social media.

“It’s a more efficient, effective way of allowing people to donate. We have caught up with the times,” Shea said.

Shea imagines that over time the original phone calls will phase out, as fewer and fewer households use landlines.

In addition to supporting the teams and booster club, any funds will also go to repairing the athletic facilities, which Shea says haven’t received attention since 2003, when the high school renovations took place.

The drive will last through March 18. To donate, see how teams are doing, or learn more, visit: https://give2orr.com/

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